CVE-2026-65125 Overview
CVE-2026-65125 affects NVIDIA Infrastructure Controller for Linux. The vulnerability allows an attacker to influence file names or paths processed by the controller. Successful exploitation may lead to code execution, privilege escalation, data tampering, or denial of service. The weakness is classified as external control of a file name or path [CWE-73].
The flaw requires high privileges and high attack complexity, which limits opportunistic exploitation. However, the network attack vector and impact across confidentiality, integrity, and availability warrant prompt remediation in environments running the affected controller.
Critical Impact
Successful exploitation can result in arbitrary code execution, privilege escalation, data tampering, and denial of service on hosts running NVIDIA Infrastructure Controller for Linux.
Affected Products
- NVIDIA Infrastructure Controller for Linux
Discovery Timeline
- 2026-09-22 - CVE CVE-2026-65125 published to NVD
- 2026-09-22 - Last updated in NVD database
Technical Details for CVE-2026-65125
Vulnerability Analysis
The vulnerability stems from external control of a file name or path within NVIDIA Infrastructure Controller for Linux. An attacker who can influence input consumed by the controller can direct file operations toward attacker-chosen locations. The controller then acts on those paths with its own privilege level.
Because the controller manages infrastructure components, misdirected file operations can substitute configuration, binaries, or data files. This substitution enables code execution paths, privilege escalation, integrity loss, and service disruption.
Exploitation requires high privileges on the target and high attack complexity. These preconditions narrow the attacker profile to authenticated users or compromised service accounts that already possess elevated access to the controller interface.
Root Cause
The root cause is insufficient validation of externally supplied file name or path input, mapped to [CWE-73]. The controller trusts input that should be constrained to a fixed set of allowed locations or canonicalized before use.
Attack Vector
The attack vector is network-based. An authenticated actor with high privileges submits crafted input that steers a file operation. The operation resolves to a path controlled by the attacker, and the controller performs the read, write, or execute action against that path.
No public proof-of-concept is available at the time of publication. See the GitHub NVIDIA Security Repository for the vendor advisory and further technical detail.
Detection Methods for CVE-2026-65125
Indicators of Compromise
- Unexpected file writes or reads by the NVIDIA Infrastructure Controller service account outside of its normal working directories.
- Configuration or binary files modified with timestamps that do not correlate with authorized change windows.
- Authenticated API or management-plane requests containing path traversal sequences or absolute paths in fields that normally accept identifiers.
Detection Strategies
- Audit controller logs for file operations referencing paths outside the expected data and configuration directories.
- Correlate privileged user sessions on the controller with subsequent file system changes to detect misuse of legitimate credentials.
- Alert on process executions spawned by the controller service that are not part of its documented behavior.
Monitoring Recommendations
- Enable verbose audit logging for the controller and forward events to a centralized log platform.
- Monitor filesystem integrity for controller-owned directories using Linux audit rules or file integrity monitoring tooling.
- Track authentication events for privileged controller accounts and flag anomalous source addresses or session times.
How to Mitigate CVE-2026-65125
Immediate Actions Required
- Apply the vendor-supplied update referenced in the NVIDIA product security advisory as soon as it is available for your platform.
- Inventory hosts running NVIDIA Infrastructure Controller for Linux and prioritize patching those exposed to broader network segments.
- Rotate credentials for privileged accounts that can authenticate to the controller management interface.
Patch Information
Refer to the NVIDIA product security advisory and the NVD CVE-2026-65125 detail page for the authoritative fixed versions and upgrade guidance.
Workarounds
- Restrict network reachability of the controller management interface to trusted administrative subnets and jump hosts.
- Enforce least privilege on controller accounts and remove standing high-privilege access where possible.
- Apply mandatory access controls such as SELinux or AppArmor profiles to constrain the paths the controller process can read from or write to.
# Configuration example
# Restrict management-plane access to a trusted admin subnet
sudo iptables -A INPUT -p tcp --dport <controller_port> -s 10.0.100.0/24 -j ACCEPT
sudo iptables -A INPUT -p tcp --dport <controller_port> -j DROP
Disclaimer: This content was generated using AI. While we strive for accuracy, please verify critical information with official sources.